After a tough fight in singles, No. 17 Florida (7-6,2-2 Southeastern Conference) dropped its match and its home winning streak after falling to the Georgia (10-5, 5-0 SEC) 4-3.
The Gators began singles down one after losing the doubles point.
Georgia's No. 21 duo Hernus Pieters and Ben Wagland defeated Elliot Orkin and Gordon Watson in a tough 8-7 (5) decision., and the Bulldogs clinched the doubles point when Mike Alford and Florent Diep fell to Garrett Brasseaux and Nathan Pasha 8-5.
In singles, Georgia kept the momentum going.
No. 79 Garrett Brasseaux (UGA) defeated Maxx Lipman in two straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. Then Gators began to play their game.
Diep defeated Wagland in two easy sets, 6-1, 6-1, to give Florida their first point of the match.
The momentum shifted after UGA's Nick Wood defeated Orkin 7-6, 6-4, giving Georgia a 3-1 lead.
Alford gave the Gators hope when he defeated Pieters in a long, tough, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 decision.
Watson came right behind Alford, defeating, No. 25 Nathan Pasha 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3), to tie the match at three.
“To come out and play at that level right off that bat, and beat one of the premier players in college tennis in Nathan Pasha,” coach Bryan Shelton said. “What a great win.”
The game-winning match came down to a match against Diego Hidalgo and Austin Smith. Smith won in straight sets 7-6, 7-5 to give Georgia the 4-3 victory.
Florida will continue their SEC play at home next week with matches against Auburn Friday and Alabama Saturday.
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Maxx Lipman swings at the ball during Florida’s 4-2 win against TCU on Jan. 26 at the Ring Tennis Complex.
